FALL 2008
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE
DESCRIPTION
A study of representative works of world literature from Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. The course emphasizes the study and consideration of the literary, cultural, and human significance of selected works of the Western and non-Western literary traditions. An important goal of the class is to promote an understanding of the works in their cultural/historical contexts and of the enduring human values which unite the different literary traditions. The course's pedagogy gives special attention to critical thinking and writing within a framework of cultural diversity as well as comparative and interdisciplinary analysis.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER MATERIALS
Texbooks available at the University Bookstore:
Online outlines on authors and texts studied in the course avaialble at: http://fajardo-acosta.com/worldlit/
Readings not found in the textbooks or in the online outlines will be made available on Blueline(blueline.creighton.edu) (log on with your Creighton NetID as the username and the corresponding password)
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES
1) Two
Papers (20% each)
The essay assignments will ask students
to read closely, analyze, and interpret a particular passage from one of the
texts studied and/or develop a theme/issue related to the readings, lectures,
or class discussions. For essay grading criteria see "Grading
of Essays and Other Written Work". Students should expect to write about 4-5 typewritten pages (approx. 250 words per page). Students must follow the guidelines
provided by the instructor (click here for details). For further information on the
writing and grading of papers see Grading
Standards and Procedures, and Grading
of Essays and Other Written Work. See Schedule below for Paper #1 and Paper #2 deadlines.
2) Pop Quizzes (20%)
A number of unannounced quizzes will be administered during the semester testing students' observance and completion of the reading assignments as well as comprehension of major concepts, terminology, facts and ideas presented in the lectures and class discussions. Students will be allowed 10 minutes for the completion of each quiz.
3) Term Project &
Presentation (20%)
Each student will undertake and complete a term project which may be a paper (5-10
pages of interpretation, analysis and/or research); creative writing (short story, play, or set of poems -- also 5-10 pages); an original art work (painting, sculpture, drawing, instrumental and/or vocal music composition and performance, play skit or other dramatization, dance choreography and performance, collage, film, other live or recorded performance pieces,
etc.); or other, including documentaries, websites, field research/interviews, etc. Students may also propose projects in media and forms not listed here. All work must be
clearly relevant and related to the class materials. All works must be created
during and for the specific purposes of this course. Each student will make
a 5-10 minute in-class presentation describing and/or performing his/her project
(see Schedule below for presentations' date). All projects must be
approved by the instructor in advance--students will submit a brief, one-paragraph
proposal ( see Schedule below for proposal deadline) describing the topic, medium/materials, and ideas to be explored in
the project. See schedule
below for deadlines for the proposal, the presentation,
and the project in final form
Students choosing to write a paper for their term project must follow the guidelines provided by the instructor (click here for details). For further information on the writing and grading of papers see Grading Standards and Procedures, and Grading of Essays and Other Written Work.
4) Participation and Other Performance (20%)
In addition to other grades, the instructor will assess and grade each student's
overall accomplishment, development, and involvement in the course. This grade
will take into account aspects of a student's performance such as class participation,
preparation, contributions, effort, attentiveness, interest, improvement, responsibility,
etc.
5) Two Out-of-Class Events and Two One-Page Papers
All students in the course are required to attend at least TWO out-of-class
events such as lectures, poetry/fiction readings, films, plays, exhibits, performances,
etc. relevant to the understanding and appreciation of the course materials.
Satisfaction of this requirement will be taken into account in the attendance
calculation (each event counts as one class session) and in the "Participation
and Other Performance" grade category. For each event attended students must
write a one-page paper reporting and reflecting on the significance of the
experience and its relevance to the course (approx. 250 words).Recommended events for this fall include the following:
6) Other Policies
Deadlines: Make-ups/extensions for a missed deadline will only be given in cases of documented serious illness or other valid, non-frivolous excuse such as documented participation in official University academic, service or sports events (it will be up to the instructor to determine and decide on the acceptability of an excuse). Otherwise, students must meet all deadlines specified in the syllabus.
Attendance Policy: An attendance measurement will be calculated equal to the percentage of total class time attended. The course grade may not exceed that percentage (i.e. if a student attended only 75% of the total class time, the course grade may not be higher than 75 or C according to a 100-point scale where 90-100 = A, 87-89 = B+, 80-86 = B, 77-79 = C+, 70-76 = C, 60-69 = D, and 0-59 = F). Notice also that, at the discretion of the instructor, any student missing more than 30% of the total class time may fail the course. All absences, regardless of the reason, are taken into account in the calculation of the attendance percentage.
Academic Honesty and Class Conduct Policy: All students in the class are expected to observe the University's guidelines on student conduct as described in the Code of Conduct and Creighton University's Student Handbook (especially the section on "Academic Honesty Policy" dealing with problems of plagiarism, cheating, etc.). All work turned in for credit in this course must be personal and original, produced during the course of the semester and for the specific purposes and according to the guidelines of the given assignments. Any misrepresentations, concealments, or distortions of source, origin, collaboration or authorship of such materials will be considered forms of academic dishonesty and will result in failing the given assignment or, at the discretion of the instructor, the entire course. Problems such as repeated lateness arriving to class (or departing early), inattentiveness, or disruptive behavior will adversely affect attendance and/or the class participation grade. Seriously disruptive behavior can also result, at the discretion of the instructor, in more severe penalties, including failing the entire course.
Email Communication: The University considers a student's Creighton email address the official means of communication with faculty and administrators. All students are responsible for checking their email messages as they might contain important and time-sensitive information relevant to the course, including notifications on changes to reading and other assignments, deadlines, class cancellations or reschedulings, etc. A student who prefers to receive email at a different address must inform the instructor.
Special Needs or Accommodations: Any student requiring special arrangements or other accommodations, due to disabilities and or other special circumstances, is encouraged to request such arrangements from the instructor and the Office of Disability Accommodations.
Grading
All aspects of the course will be graded on a 100-point scale where 90-100 =
A, 87-89 = B+, 80-86 = B, 77-79 = C+, 70-76 = C, 60-69 = D, and 0-59 = F. For
further information on grading see documents entitled "Grading
Standards and Procedures" and "Grading
of Essays and Other Written Work." At the discretion of the instructor,
a normative curve may be applied to the grades at the end of the term. The course
grade will be calculated according to the following formula:
| Papers | 40% |
| Quizzes | 20% |
| Term Project and Presentation | 20% |
|
Participation and Other Performance |
20% |
|
Total |
100% |
All reading
is due on the date indicated. Click on the author name and the text title in
the online syllabus for factual information, terminology, and study questions. In addition to
the online materials, students are urged to read the introductions and background
materials in the textbook for all authors and texts studied.
Online outlines on authors and texts studied in the course available at:
http://fajardo-acosta.com/worldlit/
(click on the links in the schedule below to access the individual outlines)
Any readings not found in the textbooks or through the links in this syllabus will be available on Blueline(blueline.creighton.edu) (log on with your Creighton NetID as the username and the corresponding password)
Thu Aug 28
Tue Sep 02
Thu Sep 04
Tue Sep 09
Thu Sep 11
Tue Sep 16
Thu Sep 18
Tue Sep 23
Thu Sep 25
Thu Oct 02
Tue Oct 07
Thu Oct 09
Tue Oct 14
Thu Oct 16
Tue Oct 21
Thu Oct 23
Tue Oct 28
Tue Nov 04
Thu Nov 06
Tue Nov 11
Thu Nov 13
Tue Nov 18
Thu Nov 20
Thu Nov 27
Tue Dec 02
Thu Dec 04
Tue Dec 09
Thu Dec 18 10:00-11:40 AM
Last updated: 08/27/2008
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